SIR Bobby Robson hailed Lomano LuaLua's finest game for Newcastle United last night after the striker scored twice in their 4-0 thrashing of West Ham United.

LuaLua, who took 37 matches to open his goal account for Newcastle, has now hit the target five times in his last six league matches.

His 11-minute brace sent the Magpies soaring to the top of the fledgling Premiership table as West Ham surrendered meekly after half time.

Although Alan Shearer and Nobby Solano also got on the scoresheet as Newcastle were rampant in the closing stages, it was LuaLua who triggered the goal rush.

Robson said: "That was LuaLua's best performance for us. He's not had that many starts but he scored twice and set up one, and he was my man of the match.

"He's the nearest thing we've got to Craig Bellamy. He's brisk and strong, and he's got a bit of fizz about him.

"I don't know what he's going to do next and neither does he, so there's no way the opposition can know!

"Alan Shearer is always well marked when the ball is crossed into the box because the opposition knows how dangerous he is in the air.

"We've told LuaLua that he needs to be Alan's ally in the box and he did that by scoring the second goal with his head.

"Craig knows he'll have to fight for his place like everyone else when he gets fit."

LuaLua himself was delighted with his double and said: ''The manager has just kept telling me to hit the target and when I was missing I knew that my chance would come, and in the second half it did.''

LuaLua was brought up in east London and the former Colchester player joked: ''My friends support West Ham and have been watching the game so I am expecting a beating when I get back to London.

"But I am enjoying it, so that's all that matters.''

Robson ensured that his side stayed calm despite going in goal-less at half time.

He added: "We didn't panic at half-time because we were controlling the game; we were doing most of the running and were dominating possession.

"I told the players we only needed one goal and we'd win the game comfortably once we got it."

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